University Overcomes Edgewater

For The First Time In Four Meetings, The Cougars Held Off The Eagles, 14-7.

October 16, 1998|By Keith Cramer, Special to The Sentinel

University used a balanced attack Thursday night to accomplish what it had not done in four previous meetings with Edgewater - defeat the Eagles.

``This is huge for our seniors,'' University Coach Gerry Buchert said after his Cougars' 14-7 triumph for homecoming, their final home game of the season.

Senior wide receiver Jacques Cozart racked up 94 yards on six catches and scored the game-winning touchdown on a 42-yard reception from Larry Harrison with 2:52 remaining.

``Personally, this win means a lot to me,'' Cozart said. ``It's my last time on this field.''

The Cougars' other touchdown came on a 1-yard run by Peter Milbuta. On the ground, Arturio Huntley carried the load, rushing 30 times for 99 yards.

Although the Cougars (3-4) also allowed the Edgewater running machine of Kevin Houston and Willie Parker to gain more than 100 yards each, neither was effective in the second half.

Houston, who averaged nine yards a carry in the first half, managed only 23 yards on eight carries in the second.

``Our defense rose to the occasion,'' Buchert said. ``Last week, we had a chance to win late in the game, and that makes everyone second-guess themselves if they're winners.''

A lot of second-guessing was done on the Edgewater sideline as quarterback Alex Jackson, who has been outstanding through most of the season, was shut down, completing just two of 13 passes for 42 yards.

Although he put the Eagles (3-3) on the scoreboard first with a 2-yard touchdown run, Jackson's first completion was a 36-yard pass to Walter Joseph late in the fourth quarter. It moved the Eagles into Cougars territory, where Jackson, operating out of the hurry-up offense, rolled to his right and fired a bullet down the sideline that was picked off at the 10 by Abraham Perez.